He lowered her to the comforter and came down on top of her in the nick of time, spreading her thighs and settling his hard, aching erection between her legs. Though he was fully dressed, he realized she wasn't.

Her robe parted easily, and instead of thin silk, he discovered bare flesh, moist heat and damp folds waiting for his touch, his taste, his aching member. He curled his fingers around the down comforter surrounding them and prayed for restraint.

"Don't you think you're overdressed?" she asked.

To hell with it. Restraint was overrated. He rose and began stripping out of his clothes, mindless of where they fell, but not unaware of Rina. She watched him undress. Her bright gaze followed his movements, the need dilating her eyes an arousing sight. As was her pose. She lay on the bed, robe parted, exposing a hint of white skin and cleavage above the belted knot, and those enticingly damp curls below.

He eased himself beside her, fully naked and completely aroused. Flesh against flesh, he thought he'd died and gone to heaven, except for the hard ache he'd yet to satisfy.

"I have a surprise." Her light laughter only served to inflame his need even more.

"I like surprises."

"Then close your eyes."

He lay back and complied, his body charged, his mind barely able to focus. In the darkness, he heard her open a drawer and rummage through it. "No peeking," she warned him.

He covered his eyes with one arm for good measure.

"Ready?" she asked in a husky voice.

"That's a loaded question, Rina." And then he nearly flew off the bed as he felt the first silken touch of-"What is that?"

"What's it feel like?"

"A soft tingling," he said through gritted teeth as a featherlight sensation teased his skin and worked its way up his thighs. "A feather?"

"Wrong."

The fluttering torment continued as she caressed his lower abdomen, flirting with him, circling close to where his erection pulsed thick and ready.

"Guess again."

The sensation came once more, this time teasing the head of his penis, causing his hips to jerk upward. He nearly came then. Unable and unwilling to play anymore, he opened his eyes.

Rina straddled his thighs, a long ponytail in her hand, a warm, inviting smile on her flushed face. "I remember how much you liked the long hair, so I thought I'd satisfy that ultimate male fantasy."

"What male fantasy?"

"Wrapping long hair around your body. Don't tell me it's not something you've dreamed about." She studied him through too-innocent eyes for a woman so bewitching.

"If I admit to the obvious, do you think we can do something about this?" He glanced at his unrestrained erection.

"I think that can be arranged." With a wicked grin, she tossed the hair extension aside and covered his thighs with splayed hands, inching upward until her fingertips touched his coarse hair.

He let out a groan. This woman would be the death of him.

"But first I need you to tell me what you want." She swallowed hard and hesitated, the uncertainty more endearing than her earlier boldness had been.

He'd once asked her to tell him the same thing, and he was grateful she'd cared enough to ask. "I want you to take me in your mouth." He needed her to give to him in that ultimate, intimate way. Needed to know she was as far gone as he. "Hold me in your hand, take me in your mouth and make me come."

He held his breath and waited as she stretched out beside him, her legs near his head, her mouth hovering above his sex. "A first," he thought he heard her say, and then he heard nothing because she'd done as he'd asked.

Heat enveloped him, cushioning him in liquid warmth. At the first lap of her tongue, he nearly came off the bed. And then she bathed him with damp sweeps of her tongue, alternating with erotic grazing of teeth against his shaft.

"Sweet heaven," he muttered with an uncontrollable groan. He was lost in the most incredible whirlpool of sensation, but not so far gone he couldn't think of her, and when he opened his eyes, her bare skin beckoned to him.

It took some maneuvering and some damn fine concentration on his part not to climax first, but he managed to part her robe and find the vee of her legs. He grasped her thighs and found her slick, damp folds with his tongue, drawing her into his mouth the same way she was taking him.

"Colin?" The shock in her voice sounded at the same time the swirling arousing sensations rocking his body tapered off. Damn. "Relax, sweetheart. I want you with me when I come."

The things Rina did to him, body, heart and soul defied description. He inhaled her essence and his body trembled as he began working her again with his tongue.

A whimper escaped, bubbling up from the back of her throat, and her hips began a subtle movement, begging for more. Holding on to her thighs, he met her silent demand as she did the same for him, slickening his hard shaft with dampness and gliding her hands up and down, mimicking the thrust of lovemaking, of his body pumping into her tight, moist heat.

Within seconds, a shaking, shuddering climax hit him, harder than any he could remember, sending him into a breath-stealing moment of release and complete surrender. From the cry that escaped her lips, he knew he'd taken her along for the ride. And that notion pleased him far more than his own physical release.

Later, after a shower that involved more than washing up, they shared popcorn in bed while a mellow radio station played in the background. A dim light set the room aglow, Rina snuggled beside him, and Colin felt a contentment that had always eluded him.

"I've been thinking," she said.

"I know. I can hear those old gears grinding."

She laughed. "I'm serious. You were talking earlier about how hurt you were that Joe didn't leave the running of the paper to you in case of an emergency."

The topic sobered him, reminding him of how and why he'd ended up back on Rina's doorstep tonight. Watching Corinne sit by Joe's bedside, her gaze damp, his hand in hers, he'd felt like an outsider in a family he thought had been his. He wasn't a child and he understood how juvenile his thoughts seemed, so he'd tried to focus on the reasons behind his feelings.

It came back to the bond he'd always shared with Joe. The bond the older man had broken. The newspaper. "What about it?" he asked Rina.

"Well, I take it even before today's relapse, Joe hasn't been up to a business conversation, so you don't know why he did what he did."

"That about sums it up."

"Until you can talk with him, you won't feel much better. But you can try talking to Corinne and not fighting with her," she suggested. "I did notice you aren't exactly your charming self when she's around."

Despite the serious subject, he laughed. "That's true." He picked up a piece of popcorn. "Open," he said. Rina opened her mouth and he popped a piece inside. "But I have tried and she's set on doing things her way. And I went there today, intending to hash things out, but…" He shook his head. "It wasn't the time."

She chewed and swallowed. "Well, you're the one with experience," she said, taking his side without knowing what his side was or what it would mean for her future. "As soon as Joe's better, I'm sure he'll hear you out."

"The doctor's indicated a return to work wasn't coming anytime soon," he said.

"But he'll be able to take back the reins or at least oversee more. At the very least, you'll be able to talk to him again." She leaned over and placed a salty kiss on his lips. "You'll feel better once you get things off your chest. Be true to yourself, Colin. I already told you, my marriage taught me that's the one thing that counts in life."

"You told me a little. I want to know more."

She eyed him steadily. "I realize now that though I did love Robert…" She trailed off.

And he hated the jealousy gnawing at his gut. Hating the thought of Rina with any other man.

"Although I loved him, it was a steady, dependable kind of love." She drew a calming breath. "Not anything like…" She shook her head, interrupting herself. "Never mind."

Colin's stomach clenched, but he refused to push her. Probably because he was afraid she'd compare her safe marriage to their more combustible, less reliable, short-term affair. And he wasn't in any position to reassure her.


* * *

RINA DECIDED to throw a last-minute party on Christmas Day. Instead of having Colin uncomfortable and surrounded only by her family, she wanted to bring his friends and relatives to him.

Luckily, Logan and Catherine agreed to move their holiday celebration to Rina's, and Catherine even offered to bring the food, for which Rina was eternally grateful. Catherine then talked her sister, Kayla, and her husband, Kane, into joining them. Frankie had also agreed, since her family was out of state, and she hadn't made any plans. And Emma had jumped with glee, accepting any excuse to spend Christmas with Logan and away from her son. She'd even asked if she could bring Stan.

Progress came in many forms, Rina thought wryly as her company all mingled in the family room. Rina's only concern was whether Norton would behave. She glanced down at the offending male who stared up at her with soulful eyes.

He didn't like having his home invaded by so many people who ignored him or refused to pass him food. "You will be good, won't you, boy?"

"If you insist on wearing that dress, I can't promise a thing."

Rina turned. Colin stood in the doorway, staring at her hungrily from across the expanse of the small kitchen. "For a minute there, I thought Norton was answering me."

He laughed, stepping toward her. "You look incredible."

Heat flooded her cheeks but she was glad he'd noticed. "You're not so bad yourself."

"Now, there's a compliment," he said wryly. "Are you really worried about Norton? I can walk him if you are."

She shrugged. "I'm just being cautious. He's not too happy with so many people invading his space. Except for you. He adores you. And so do I." She brushed a kiss on his clean-shaven cheek, inhaling his seductive, purely masculine scent. Delicious, she thought.

She couldn't get enough of him. No matter how dangerous the thought, she had no choice but to accept what he gave and put the notion of him moving on out of her mind. It would happen soon enough, especially if things with Joe didn't go well.

Forcing herself to think about the party and the guests, instead of making love with Colin, wasn't easy. "You can walk him in about an hour. Right now he's just sulking."

Colin cocked his head to the side, taking in the morose dog. "How can you tell?"

"Because he's not jumping and begging for attention. He wants these people to come to him. He went through a period like this after his stint as a hero dog. He saved Brianne from a drug dealer who wanted revenge on my brother. He got so spoiled afterward it took awhile until he started acting like a dog again."

Colin raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I didn't think he had a vicious bone in his wrinkled body."

She laughed. "He doesn't. He didn't even have to bare his teeth. All he had to do was pee on the guy's leg. The bad guy lost his focus, giving Jake a chance to step in."

Colin grinned. "Way to use your bodily functions, man."

Norton thumped his tail in reply.

"Hey, I thought I was the hero who rescued Brianne." Jake entered the kitchen.

"Only after Norton provided the opportunity, and don't you forget it. You owe him."

"I paid in advance by watching him that entire summer," he muttered.

"I'm sure it wasn't that much of a hardship." She folded her arms over her chest. "And I didn't realize you were standing there."

He folded his arms over his chest, too, a gesture very much like Rina's, Colin thought.

"I'm just observing," Jake said, his gaze on Colin.

Observing him, Colin realized. Rina hadn't said anything, but it was obvious his decision not to return yesterday had impacted not just Rina, but her brother. Jake's attitude had been decidedly chillier than yesterday. Colin respected that.

"So what can I get you guys? Colin?" she asked first, obviously attempting to change the subject.

"Do you have any bottled water? Emma's getting tipsy and Logan wants to dilute her wine."

Rina furrowed her eyebrows. "Emma doesn't drink. She's up to something, so you'd better keep an eye on her. Better yet, keep an eye on poor Stan. The man has his hands full." She turned to her brother. "And you? Isn't your wife waiting inside?"

"As a matter of fact, she wants to know if you have any celery."